85
Metascore
4 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90The New York TimesGlenn KennyThe New York TimesGlenn KennyDespite the urgency of the situation the musicians face, when they’re not doing their work, the movie is quiet, observant, taking in the austere beauty of the land and the people.
- 90Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlVillage VoiceAlan ScherstuhlFirst-time feature director Gregor never imposes a narrative arc on his subjects; instead, we meet them, hear their hopes and their fears, and then savor performances of singular beauty, power, and invention.
- 90Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranMusic documentaries are thick on the land, and political ones are numerous as well, but Mali Blues is different in that it artfully combines hypnotic music with definite societal concerns.
- 50The PlaylistGary GarrisonThe PlaylistGary GarrisonWhile the film lavishes in the beautiful landscape and the vibrant, eclectic music that abounds, it never coalesces into anything greater than the sum of its parts, or become the film the subject deserves.